In John 1 Philip Was Called to Follow the Lord

This He Said To Prove Him

John 6

Text: John 6:6

John 6:6
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Introduction:

In John 1 Philip was called to follow the Lord.

John 1:43
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

In John 1 we see Philip as a soul winner.

John 1:45-46
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Nowhere in John 6 we see Philip again, and this time he is facing a great difficulty.

Notice:

1. The Task

John 6:1-6
1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great companycome unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

A. Compassion for the company

1. Lack of food

B. Concern for the comrade

2. Lack of faith

The Lord never asks a question for an answer but rather for our confession. (see vs 6).

2. The Test

The Lord often tests us in order to help us. Philip needed his faith strengthened.

Sometimes the testing is by delays.

Sometimes the testing is by disappointments.

Sometimes the testing is by death.

You may wonder why the Lord tests us. Here are three reasons.

1. He tests us that we might know ourselves.

Peter had to be tested before he could be greatly used of God. He had to discover his own weakness and learn to depend on the power of God.

2. He tests us to strengthen us.

If we pass the Lord’s test, we are made ready for greater work. Philip was tested, and after what happened he must have been strengthened for greater work.

3. He tests us to destroy all self-sufficiency.

We are all prone to look to ourselves and to our own resources instead of looking toward God.

3. The Tangible

John 6:7-9
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

These two disciples faithless response was based on the lack of tangibles that they could see.

Unbelief is contagious. Andrew followed after Philip.

This answer was given in spite of that the Lord had previously done.

Water made into wine (John 2:1-11)

Heals the nobleman's son (John 4:46-54)

Draught of fishes (Luke 5:1-11)

Heals the demoniac (Mark 1:23-26; Luke 4:33-36)

Heals Peter's mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39)

Cleanses the leper (Matthew 8:1-4; Mark1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16)

Heals the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)
Healing of the impotent man (John 5:1-16)

Restoring the withered hand (Matthew 12:9-13; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-11)

Restores the centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)

Raises the widow's son to life (Luke 7:11-16)

Heals a demoniac (Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:11; Luke 11:14-15)

Stills the tempest (Matthew 8:23-27; Matthew 14:32; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25)

Casts devils out of two men of Gadara (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)

Raises from the dead the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18-19; Matthew 9:23-26; Mark 5:22-24; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:41-42; Luke 8:49-56)

Cures the woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48)

Restores two blind men to sight (Matthew 9:27-31)

Heals a demoniac (Matthew 9:32-33)

4. The Truth

John 6:10-13
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

The Lord took the little and did much. All He asks is that we make ourselves and that which we have available, no matter how little or insignificant it may seem.

Remember:

He used the tear of a baby to move the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter.

He used the shepherd rod of Moses to work a mighty miracle in Egypt.

He used David’s sling and a stone to destroy the Philistine giant.

He used a little maid to bring the mighty Naaman to Elisha.

He used the widow with a handful of meal to sustain His prophet.

He used a little child to teach his disciples a much needed lesson in humility.

And here He uses five loaves and two small fishes.

Close:

Oh, for a faith that will not shrink,

Though pressed by ev’ry foe

That will not tremble on the brink

Of any earthly woe!

That will not murmur or complain

Beneath the chastening rod,

But in the hour of grief or pain,

Will lean upon it’s God;

A faith that shines more bright and clear

When tempests rage the while;

That seas of trouble cannot drown,

Nor Satan’s darts beguile.

Lord, give us such faith as this,

And then, whate’re may come,

We’ll taste, and hear the hollow bliss

Of our eternal home.